Wire fence



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 4

J. A. MOGARTHY.

WIRE PENOE.

No. 429,244. Patented June 3, 1890.

azw JOB/4W ,3 W Z (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I J. A. McCARTHY.

WIRE FENCE.

No. 429,244. Patented June 3, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MCCARTHY, OF LEBANON, INDIANA.

WIRE FENCE.

'sPE-CIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,241, dated June 3, 1890. Application filed November 29, 1889- Serial No. 332,037. (No model) To CLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MCCARTHY, of Lebanon, county of Boone, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usef 111 Improvements in ire Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters and figures refer to like parts.

My invention relates to the construction of wire fences, and will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of my fence, showing also the post and shoe beneath the surface of the ground. Fig. 2 1s a top view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. .4 is a detail view partly in sectlon, showing one of the tighteners and a part of the post. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the central tension-spring connected with the fence-wire for taking up the slack. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are on an enlarged scale.

In detail the end post is made of iron plates or cast 1n one piece like channel-iron. This post has openings h on one or more sides, accordlng as it is required to be a cornerpost or an end post, to admit the passage of the fence-wires w. The ends of these wires are coiled about the tightening-spools 2.,which have bearings in the sides of the post. The disk portions of the spools have a series of holes, through which are passed pins 19 to lock them in position at any desired point. At suitable distances between these end posts are placed intermediate posts 19, which may be made of wood or metal, and are preferably set 111 the ground. Staples st are driven into these and the wires passed loosely through them, so as to allow for their expansion and contraction. At suitable distances apart, and generally Where the line of fence is long, in the center of such line are coiled springs 81), connected to the opposite wire in the manner shown in Fig. 5, the wire coming from the right hand passing through and being connected to the left hand end of the spring, and the left-hand wire passing through and connected with the right-hand end of the spring, so that as the spring exerts its natural tension it tends to draw the wires closer together, takin g up any slack in the line that may occur through expansion, and if the wires are too tight the springs will give, allowing them again to contract. Between the intermediate and end posts brace-wires w are woven into the fence in the manner shown in Fig. 1 for spacing and uniting the line-wires.

1 1 1 are small square, plates set into the posts, through which bolts are passed, strengthening the structure, and these are especially desirable when the posts are made of plates instead of being cast in a solid piece.

' b1" are braces for the end posts, made of wood or iron, and having a bearing against the under side of the nut n, which confines the bolt 1) to the post,-as shown in Fig. 3. Through the foot of the diagonal brace (20' is passed a brace-bolt Z), which also passes through the post and is secured by a nut on the outer end, as shown in Fig. 1. This brace-bolt,acting with the brace hr, the latter having a bearing against the nut 01, as described, holds the post p in a vertical position as against any strain of the fence-wires.

The lower end of the post p is set into the ground, as shown, and is bolted to a broad shoe 8, having strengthening-ribs, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and a diagonal brace Zn" connects the post above with the extension of this shoe. A brace like this is connected upon each side, as shown in Fig. 2, and the earth is then filled in around and over the shoe and aboutthe diagonal braces hr and rammed down tightly, making the whole structure solid and firm.

If the panels are short, the intermediate brace-wires need not be duplicated, but one will be sufficient, and they may be made straight instead of with a fork at the bottom, the only object of this being to assist in spacing the wires and to hold them from sagging and to unite them, so that they will act together instead of being left independent under strain or pressure.

The tighteners t are journaled in boxings, as shown in Fig. 8, and the end of the spoolaxle is squared to receive awrench,with which it is to be operated.

c is a cap-plate through which the bolt 1) is passed, it being secured by a nut on the outside, as shown in Fig.

1), substantially as shown and described.

\Vhen the post is intended to be used as a corner-post, from which two lines are to be run, holes 71 are also formed in the sides, as shown at the left hand in Fig. l.

\VhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is the following:

1. In a wire fence, the corner-post 2.), constructed of channeled metal, the metal shoe .9, bolted to the foot of such post and further secured thereto by a diagonal brace In", all below the surface of the soil, and tighteningspools 2, journaled in bearings connected to such post and provided with holes in their ends to receive loekingpins, which bear against the outer face of the post,in combination with fence-wires w and intermediate posts 2. A wire fence comprising; a channeled metal post set into the soil, a metal shoe .9,

connected at its lower end, the diagonal brace In", connectingthe outer endof the shoe with the post, such corner-post further braced on the opposite side by a diagonal brace In" and a horizontal brace-rod I), as shown, tightening-spools i, journaled in bearings in the outer face of the corner-posts, :lenee-wires w, connected to such tighteners, intermediate posts 12, through which such wires are passed, and tension-springs sp, connecting the wires between intermediate posts for taking" up the slack thereof, all combined substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Hth day of November, 1889.

JOHN A. IllcUAR'lllY. Witnesses:

(.1. I. Jaeons, E. 13. GRIFFITH. 

